There are things that you can do now which can help you avoid loss of life and property and may reduce your risk of becoming a disaster victim. Those things are called mitigation. There are many low-cost mitigative measures you can take to protect yourself, your home, or your business from losses.

Protection from Wind

• Analyze your home's or business's structural strengths and weaknesses.
  
• Retrofit your existing roof with hurricane straps.
  
• Retrofit your existing roof with gable end braces.
  
• If you are building a new home or business, consider a hip roof with a pitch of 30 degrees or less.
  
• Install or build storm shutters to protect windows.
  
• Install braces to give additional support to garage doors.

Protection from Flooding

• Buy flood insurance. Contact your local emergency management office to obtain information on how to contact the local National Flood Insurance Program representative, or use the toll free number 1-800-427-4661.
  
• Move valuables and appliances out of the basement.
  
• Have the main breaker or fuse box and utility meters elevated.
  
• Consider elevating your home/business above the 100-year floodplain or estimated surge inundation level.
  
• Make sure that any flood-proofing efforts are in compliance with minimum NFIP requirements, and with State and local building codes.

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